Tacos and Tech Podcast

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.   Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!    I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter.  Before we dive in, we wanted to thank and ask our listeners to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community!   June 20 Recent events debrief: MedTech, AI, GP/LP  BIO in Boston Startup activity in SD Recent Carta funding data in relation to San Diego and by stage Fundings Retrorate - podcast & Seaside Equity raises $723M for two funds   Cadre AI coming out of stealth Qualcomm acquisition of AlphaWave Semi for $2.4B   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote July 1 - SD Tech Founders with Andy Ballester, GoFundMe and Eyepop AI co-founder July 4 - Founders Hike  July 8 - Afternoon Founders Hike July 29 - Dev & Data x CTO Talks: Healthtech Night  

What does it take to design a flawless fan experience for 75,000 people on game day, and millions more watching from home? In this episode, Neal Bloom sits down with Vikrant Bodalia, Vice President of Technology Operations at Allegiant Stadium, to unpack the strategy, innovation, and pressure behind the world's biggest live events. From Super Bowl infrastructure to facial-recognition ticketing, Vikrant shares how he reverse engineers every event from the fan perspective first. With a career that spans NBA, NHL, NFL, and the rapid rise of Las Vegas as a sports tech capital, Vikrant offers a front-row look at how venue technology is evolving and why immersive, secure, and seamless experiences are now the industry benchmark. Key Topics Covered: • Vikrant's journey from IT help desk to VP of tech at world-class venues • Lessons from working behind the scenes in the NBA, NHL, and NFL • What it means to reverse engineer a Super Bowl or Stanley Cup experience • Why “infrastructure first” is the key to delivering at stadium scale • The evolution of venue tech: from 10GB to 100GB+ internet circuits • How ASM Global prepares for record-breaking digital demands • Cybersecurity as a culture, not just a checklist • The role of AI, facial recognition, and immersive media in the future of fan engagement • Las Vegas' emergence as a leading sports and entertainment tech city • How recognition from Top Tech Awards validates years of behind-the-scenes leadership Links & Resources: ASM Global Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas Top Tech Awards Connect with Vikrant: LinkedIn Connect with Neal: LinkedIn Twitter

In this episode of Tacos & Tech, Neal welcomes a longtime friend, Andy Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of RetroRate. to talk about building a company around an idea few people even know exists: assumable loans. They dig deep into Andy's journey from building software at Electronic Arts and Apple to leading product at Redfin, launching mortgage startup Approved, and now tackling a hidden opportunity in real estate finance: assumable loans. Andy shares his personal founder journey, lessons learned across big tech and startups, and why he's committed to building in San Diego.   Key Topics: A walk through Andy's product career—from EA to Apple to Redfin Why assumable loans are the key to unlocking a stuck real estate market The origin story behind RetroRate and solving a problem most people don't know exists The impact of locked-in low rates on buyer power and seller mobility Lessons learned building, scaling, and selling a mortgage startup (Approved) Navigating startup life post-acquisition and deciding to build again The evolving San Diego startup landscape and why it's a great place to build Real talk on balancing work, life, and entrepreneurship with family in tow Leveraging AI and design thinking in modern proptech   Links & Resources: RetroRate Connect with Andy: LinkedIn: Andy Taylor Connect with Neal: LinkedIn: Neal Bloom Twitter: @NealBloom

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Rising Tide Partners. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. June 6 Tech News We recorded this week's pod live on LinkedIn here. What did you think? General Atomics Fusion Reactor Tour Funding Roundup – Q2 So Far Flock Freight raised $60M Series E RevenueCat raised $50M Series B (co-founder based in SD) BioLink: $100M Series C Hyatt Therapeutics: $65M Series A ClearPoint Neuro: $110M public offering Executive Moves Mark Fields named Chief Information & Innovation Officer at Illumina AI Spotlight Personal AI partners with NVIDIA and launches an AI receptionist tool Headquarters moving to SF, but SD office remains Still a top contender in SD's AI ecosystem Qualcomm & NVDIA making big AI moves Microsoft x Activision Blizzard Global deal, local impact: High Moon Studios (Carlsbad) now under Microsoft Gaming community expanding: new meetups + co-working hub in the works Consumer Brand News Jack in the Box (HQ in SD) struggles with Del Taco; 200 stores closed Everbowl hits 100th location milestone Rapid growth since franchising Built-in construction arm WeBuild fueling national expansion Robotics on the Big Stage Local startup Psyonic featured by YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) Two million+ views on their bionic hand demo Another big win for SD's hardware + health tech community Events Roundup – June Highlights For full list, check out The Social Coyote newsletter June 6 - SD Founder Hike June 9 - Future In Review 2025 Conference June 10 - Carlsbad Sports Active Lifestyle Industry Exchange with Naturally San Diego and SDSI June 11 - SD Founders Afternoon Hike June 12 - Best Ideas Dinner

In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with CEO of Pictor, a diagnostics company transforming healthcare through proteomics-the science of understanding what the body's proteins are doing right now. They explore how this next-generation technology is shifting the medical world from slow, reactive testing to real-time, accessible diagnostics for both humans and animals. From Jamie's early days at Quest Diagnostics to Pictor's move from New Zealand to San Diego, this episode is a front-row seat to how health innovation really happens. Whether you're building a biotech startup or just curious about how your body actually works, this conversation reveals what's next for diagnostics-and why it matters now more than ever.   Key Topics Covered What proteomics is-and why it matters more than ever The shift from DNA-based tests to real-time protein diagnostics Pictor's expansion to Carlsbad and why San Diego is a healthtech hotspot How regulatory clarity is speeding up innovation Lessons in leadership and conviction from Jamie's founder journey Making diagnostics faster, cheaper, and more personal   Links & Resources Pictor Diagnostics   Connect with Jamie LinkedIn Connect with Neal Bloom LinkedIn Twitter

Episode Summary: In this episode of the, Neal Bloom chats with Jesse Taylor, Senior Manager of Identity and Middleware Services at UNLV. Jesse shares his journey from early exposure to technology with Atari and Apple II to becoming a technical leader in higher education. They discuss the evolution of technology, the role of AI in augmenting human capabilities, and Jesse's approach to authentic leadership and team development. Jesse also highlights his work in identity management at UNLV, his involvement in the Las Vegas tech community, and his recognition as a Top Tech Vegas award recipient. Key Topics Discussed: The evolution of technology in education and hospitality sectors AI as a tool for enhancing human capabilities Leadership strategies for building and supporting high-performing teams The importance of workforce development and apprenticeships in tech The Las Vegas tech ecosystem and connections with San Diego Links & Resources: UNLV's identity and middleware services Society for Information Management (SIM) Las Vegas Chapter Nominate a leader for the Top Tech Awards Connect with Jesse: LinkedIn Connect with Neal: LinkedIn: Neal Bloom Twitter: @NealBloom

Dive into San Diego's evolving product management landscape with Vidya Dinamani as she announces the inaugural Product Management Summit. Learn how the local tech ecosystem has matured and why bringing world-class product leadership to San Diego matters. Key Topics: • San Diego Product Management Summit (June 5-6) • Evolution from Intuit leadership to Product Rebels • Building Product Tank's 2,500+ member community • Customer-centric product development methodologies • San Diego's maturing tech ecosystem   Links & Resources: Product Management Summit Product Rebeles   Connect with Vidya: LinkedIn: Vidya Dinamani Connect with Neal: LinkedIn: Neal Bloom Twitter: @NealBloom

Applications are open for the next accelerator program! In this episode, Neal Bloom chats with Misti Cain, the new Managing Director of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU. They discuss the upcoming Year 3 of the program, the application process, and what makes an ideal founder and company for the accelerator. Misty shares insights into the benefits of the SDSU partnership, the updated investment terms, and the importance of community and mentorship in the Techstars ecosystem. Key Topics: - Introduction of Misty Cain as the new Managing Director - Overview of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU Year 3 - Application details: Open from April 8 to June 11, 2024 - Ideal founder and company profile - Benefits of the SDSU partnership - Updated investment terms: $220,000 total with $200,000 uncapped MFN safe - Importance of community and mentorship - Shoutout to Ryan Kuder for his contributions to Techstars in San Diego - Misty's favorite taco spot: Puesto in Del Mar   Links and Resources: - Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU Information - Refer Founders   Connect with Misty Cain: - LinkedIn: Misti Cain https://www.linkedin.com/in/misticain/ Connect with Neal Bloom: - LinkedIn: Neal Bloom https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealbbloom - Twitter: @NealBloom https://twitter.com/NealBloom

How a third-generation builder turned a storage-unit startup into a national infrastructure powerhouse—and what's next for tech's invisible backbone. Floyd Auten, COO and co-founder of TechNet Partners, joins Neal for an episode that digs deep into the literal and figurative foundations of tech. From punchdowns in high school to powering stadiums and data centers across the country, Floyd shares how his family legacy in electrical work turned into a career designing the infrastructure that keeps the digital world running. They talk about life safety systems, the rise of AI tools in design, the Padres' Wi-Fi network, and how Floyd's team at TechNet is scaling services across all 50 states. Floyd also shares what it meant to win the Top Tech Award in 2024—and why he's excited to help spotlight other behind-the-scenes innovators this year.

Meet Jeff Fenster, a serial entrepreneur, problem solver, and relationship builder who's scaled multiple businesses by identifying problems worth solving - and assembling the right team to tackle them. Inspired early on by A Shark Never Sleeps, Jeff set out to become a sports agent, only to pivot right after law school and dive into entrepreneurship. His first venture began with a bold move - calling his employer's bluff and walking out to start his own company, only to face a major hiccup when payroll checks were accidentally sent to clients. Through trial, error, and big wins, Jeff has honed his entrepreneurial philosophy: “If you can live in your greatness, success is guaranteed.” That philosophy was put to the test when he dreamed up what would become Everbowl. Despite critics pointing out he wasn't a chef - and that most restaurants fail - Jeff saw the opportunity. Why? Because business owners, not chefs, build successful restaurant brands. From that insight, he coined: “Experience is the most overrated prerequisite to starting a company.” From the lessons of building Everbowl, Jeff launched his latest venture - WeBuild - a company that helps others bring their physical business ideas to life by streamlining construction and buildouts. Jeff also shares insights weekly on his podcast, The Jeff Fenster Show, where he interviews top performers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators about what makes them great.   In this episode, we talk about: • How Jeff approaches building multiple businesses at once • The role of self-awareness in entrepreneurial success • His 5 core principles for life and business • His latest book, Relationship Capital, which dives into the power of networking, mentorship, and building value through people • Business relationships with names like Neil Patel, Drew Brees, Shaq, and the GoFundMe founders • Why he believes investing in people is the ultimate multiplier • His new venture, WeBuild, and what he's solving next • And the power of storytelling through The Jeff Fenster Show   Plus, we get into tacos (of course): Jeff's favorite taco spot: Casero Taqueria His taco order: The al pastor, shrimp, and whatever the weekly special is.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. April 4, 2025 Padres 7-0, Dodgers 8-0 in their starts Fred's Q1 report Class of 2025 Cool Companies Fundings: Thatch AI Global M&A data Red markets because of tariffs Qualcomm acquisition news: Acquires Gen AI company & rumored to be considering acquiring UK semiconductor company Cymbiotika ranks 10 fast-growing companies Leadership changes Blender CEO Steps up Shield AI New CEO   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote 1st Mondays SSD April 7 1 Million Cups April 16 Connect Summer Social June 3

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Join us for a roundtable with three longtime builders of San Diego's startup scene: Jonah Peake of The Social Coyote and The Career Coyote Hussein Yahfoufi of Startup Beach Neal Bloom of Fresh Brewed Tech and Interlock Capital Designing Events That Actually Build Community In this episode, we dive into the elements that actually make an event meaningful—from location and check-in experience to dress code and follow-up community building. We also talk about the growing energy around co-working gatherings and the potential for turning pop-up events into permanent spaces that foster connection, creativity, and collisions.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter.  3/27 We recorded this week's pod live on LinkedIn Live here. What did you think? Neal speaking at Escondido City Council in support of the new AgX Hub NCAA update Pura Vida sold for $1m 23&Me bankruptcy Events.com buying spree Natalie Rocha leaving the UT for NYT Fellowship Entos Pharmaceuticals Expands in Canada Natilus 250,000 sq. ft. facility   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote Marching Mingle - March 26 StartupSD Co Working Day - March 28 Bootstrappers Event April 1  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Follow Fred on LinkedIn and X Follow Neal on LinkedIn and X On with the show!   3/20 UCSD/SDSU Basketball in the brackets! Exits: Gretel acquired by NVIDIA Wiz acquired by Google Poppi acquired by Pepsi ServiceNow - made an acquisition Fundings: Trust & Will Series C Occuspace Raises $6M   Tiderock AI   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks - March 20 SD Startup Mixer - March 24 SD Hardware Meetup - March 25 Marching Mingle - March 26

  Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter.   In this episode we talk about: Top Funding and Ecosystem News from Fred's Business of San Diego newsletter San Diego publicly traded life science companies had a 86% increase performance in 2024 compared to 10-20% in SF & Boston - Fred's post about this Recent fundraises First IPO in SD of 2025! Acquisitions New venture fund from the Prebys Foundation and leadership changes at Connect   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote Debrief - defense tech dinner & pre-sneak of San Diego Defense Day Founder Build Days on March 19 & 20 Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks on March 20

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. In Part Two of this roundtable discussion, we go deeper into why tech ecosystem builders Jonah Peake of The Social Coyote and The Career Coyote and Hussein Yahfoufi of Startup Beach, are building their platforms. We discuss their founder journeys, the problems they each saw worth solving, and how the local startup ecosystem looks different—and better—thanks to their solutions. Highlights: Celebrating The Career Coyote's exciting milestone: the platform's first successful job placement and its first unsubscribe (a true marker of success!). How the "Coyote Super Pack" is making networking events more impactful and intentional. Why community-focused platforms, like Startup Beach and The Social Coyote, are crucial for founders, job seekers, and investors to thrive. Upcoming Events Mentioned: February's North County Mixer - Feb 26 Pack of One: Solopreneurs, Remote from HQ, and Han-Solos - March 6 March SD Founders Hike - March 7   Help shape our community: fill out this short survey and tell us what events you think San Diego still needs!   Other links referenced on the pod: Invest Like the Best podcast with Marc Andreessen SDx Arta Finance

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. In this special roundtable episode, we dive into the power of in-person events in building and strengthening the San Diego startup ecosystem. I'm joined by two of my ecosystem-building besties: Jonah Peake of The Social Coyote and The Career Coyote and Hussein Yahfoufi of Startup Beach. Together, we discuss why community-driven events are essential, how they fuel startup growth, and what it takes to build a thriving local network. Jonah Peake has been a driving force in centralizing and curating San Diego's startup events through his Social Coyote newsletter. His passion for making connections easy has led him to compile the “Who You Need to Know in San Diego” list and build a resource hub for founders, job seekers, and ecosystem players. Hussein Yahfoufi saw a gap in the local event landscape and built Startup Beach, a platform that makes it easier for organizers and attendees to discover, share, and engage with events. The platform just hit 100 live events and recently launched the Asks & Offers feature to help the community better support one another. Links & Resources Mentioned:

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. In this episode of the Tacos & Tech Podcast, Neal Bloom sits down with Scot Chisholm, the founder of Highland and co-founder of Classy, to discuss what it truly takes to scale leadership alongside a growing company. After leading Classy from a small startup to its acquisition by GoFundMe, Scot saw firsthand that scaling a company is only possible if you scale its leaders. That insight led to the creation of Highland—a community-driven leadership experience designed for high-growth founders to navigate the challenges of leadership, build better teams, and sustain long-term success. Scot shares the key inflection points in his own journey, the biggest lessons learned, and how founders can avoid the leadership pitfalls that stall growth.  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-hosts in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter.  AND Jonah Peake Jonah Peake, runs The Social Coyote & the Career Coyote newsletters , promoting events and jobs in the San Diego tech ecosystem. Before we dive in, we wanted to thank and ask our listeners to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community!   1/30/2025 Fred's trip debrief Dent AI debrief  Any SD Super Bowl ad sighting predictions? Fundings: Biosapien $7m seed Take on 2025 already - new administration, opportunities for SD Iridia sends crypto wallet to the moon  Viasat contract  Northrop contract  Passing the torch at Biocom   Howlin' Jobs! By Career Coyote Top clicked jobs and companies   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote North County Startup Mixer breaks 200! Founders Institute San Diego applications due this Sunday - Feb 2 Feb Founders Hike - Feb 7

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is guest host Jonah Peake, who previously co-hosted with me and runs The Social Coyote newsletter, promoting events in the San Diego tech ecosystem. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   1/24/2025 TechCon SoCal debrief Future of Healthcare debrief Fundings AskTuring Seed $1M Deep Vector Seed $1.5M Xilo Series A $7.2M Sonocharge Energy $23.5M Netradyne Series D $90M Biggest deal of 2024 - Vuori Biggest VC fund raise of 2024 - Neos and StepStone   Howlin' Jobs! By Career Coyote Top clicked jobs and companies Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote Carlsbad Life Action Tech/Sports and Active Lifestyle Gathering - Feb 4 North County SD Startup Mixer San Diego Cyber Group Meetup  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News! I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is guest host Jonah Peake, who previously co-hosted with me and runs The Social Coyote newsletter, promoting events in the San Diego tech ecosystem. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Tech Community. 1/16/2025 Sending love to our friends and family in LA The Career Coyote! Carlsbad revives commercial flights Fundings Timberlyne Therapeutics $180M Series A Light Horse Therapeutics $62M Series A Rybodyn $4M PreSeed CES Announcements Qualcomm - a lot of diverse chip use cases and AI ecosystem building Illumina & Nvidia collab! Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote TechCon SoCal Preview - Jan 17 & 18 The Future of Healthcare - Jan 22 Carlsbad Life In Action Fashionphile - Feb 4 How to Angel Invest? - Feb 6 SD Founders Hike - Feb 7 From the Pack: - Product Roundtable Lunch- AI + Indie Hackers Happy Hour!- Dent:AI Startup Showcase Reception

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Tacos and Tech Podcast – Episode with Alexandra Renee Poelstra of Startup Grind Carlsbad  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.  HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1/9/2025 Top headlines Predictions  5 VC Investors Share Hot Takes and Predictions Neal's predictions - IPO market, M&A, Fundings, In person M&A news Coursekey buy out by PSG Poseida deal closed, up $500m in purchase price. $1b to $1.5b Funding Gaming Startup Simulation Theory Raises $2M Seed Funding Crop Diagnostix raises $3.5M Seed Round  Deep Vector Raises $1.5M Developments  $85M film studio under construction in Chula Vista   Curated Events List – For full list – check The Social Coyote Startup Grind Carlsbad is back Jan 14 Angel Conference events on Jan 14 and Feb 18 Rumi AI HH - Jan 16 TechCon SoCal - Jan 17-18 The Future of Healthcare - Jan 22 ACG San Diego | CapCon24 - Feb 21-22    

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.    HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1/2/2025 Top Headlines V.C. Activity Tops $6 Billion in 2024 Join the conversation on Fred's LinkedIn post Neal bets Luke Sophinos of Coursekey on number of IPOs in 2025 Fundings Janux Therapeutics - $350m Pleno - $25m growth round Hauler Hero - $10m seed round StartBlue grant award Teradata & Amazon partner on Gen AI GKN Aerospace opens new facility Heron Therapeutics Moves HQ From San Diego to North Carolina   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote SD Founders Hike - Jan. 3 CES - San Diego showcase - let us know if you'll be at CES Join me on Tuesday at this event or Wednesday at this event JP Morgan Healthcare conference January 13-16 (SF/Bay Area) TechCon SoCal - Jan 17-18  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. In this episode of the Tacos and Tech Podcast, we sit down with Faisal Mushtaq, a visionary CTO, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and the founder of TechCon SoCal, one of the region's fastest-growing tech summits. Faisal shares his inspiring journey from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego and how his mission to connect the two thriving ecosystems culminated in the creation of TechCon SoCal. What We Covered: • Faisal's Career Path: From building and scaling Fortune 500 companies to leading startups to successful exits, Faisal shares insights from his extensive experience in digital transformation, operational excellence, and global team leadership. • The Founding of TechCon SoCal: What inspired Faisal to move to San Diego and create a tech summit that bridges the innovation of Silicon Valley with the collaborative spirit of San Diego. • Building Communities Through Tech: How events like TechCon SoCal are fostering partnerships, attracting talent, and sparking innovation between two of California's most dynamic tech hubs. • Emerging Technologies: Faisal's thoughts on the transformative potential of IoT and AI, and how these technologies are shaping the future of industries. • Advice for Entrepreneurs: Faisal's strategies for scaling businesses, building strategic partnerships, and driving impactful go-to-market strategies. • Personal Vision: Faisal's commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs through angel investing and mentorship. Key Quotes from Faisal: • “TechCon SoCal is about building bridges—between people, ideas, and ecosystems—to create something larger than any one of us can achieve alone.” • “San Diego is a hidden gem for innovation, and I'm passionate about amplifying its voice on a global stage.” About Faisal Mushtaq: With decades of experience as a technology leader, Faisal has driven transformative growth for public and private companies. His expertise in IoT, AI, and health and wellness innovations, combined with his dedication to fostering the startup ecosystem, makes him a key figure in advancing technology and entrepreneurship. Resources Mentioned: • TechCon SoCal Website: techconsocal.com • Connect with Faisal on LinkedIn: Faisal Mushtaq Join us for this exciting conversation with Faisal as we dive into his journey and his vision for connecting the Silicon Valley and San Diego tech communities!

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. In this episode of the Tacos and Tech Podcast, host Neal Bloom sits down with Colin Loveless of the Vegas Golden Knights, and recent winner at the Top Tech Awards Presented by Cox Business in Las Vegas. Colin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how technology drives performance, fan engagement, and operations for one of the NHL's most exciting teams.   From IT systems to cybersecurity and innovation, Colin explains how he and his team use cutting-edge tools to keep the Golden Knights skating toward success, both on and off the ice.   What You'll Learn in This Episode 1. Colin's Career Journey: How he went from IT enthusiast to managing the tech infrastructure for an NHL team. 2. Tech Innovations in Hockey: Insights into the tools and systems that power the Vegas Golden Knights' operations and fan experience. 3. Winning a Top Tech Award: Colin discusses the projects and contributions that earned him the prestigious recognition. 4. Challenges in Sports IT: Balancing cybersecurity, operational excellence, and real-time performance demands in a high-stakes environment. 5. Future of Sports Technology: Colin's take on how AI, machine learning, and data-driven tools are transforming professional sports. And of course Colin's favorite taco spot!    Thanks to our friends at Cox Business for powering these technology conversations!

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   12/11 News Techstars SD by SDSU Demo Day Debrief San Diego GDP ($261B) bigger than 50% of US States and many countries Bio M&A in 2024 - Fred tweet   Fundings: Surglogs CoachIQ - $1.3m preseed AI Chip Startup Kneron Seeks Funds at $1 Billion Valuation   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote North County Startup Mixer - Dec 17 CES - San Diego showcase - let us know if you'll be at CES JP Morgan Healthcare conference January 13-16 (SF/Bay Area) TechCon SoCal - Jan 17-18

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 12/4 News Funding - SD VC funding through Q3 & Fred's tweet Carlsbad's Vuori secures $825M in funding, reaches $5.5B valuation Amprion raises $15M Series B Acquisitions/M&A -Kate Therapeutics acquired by Novartis for $1.1B -Roche Acquires Poseida for $1.5B -Lundbeck acquires Longboard Pharmaceuticals in $2.6B Neos Partners new fund - $1.37B JLABS supports 190+ biotechs   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote SD Founders Hike - Dec 6 Tech The Halls - Dec 6 - THE tech holiday party! JP Morgan Healthcare conference January 13-16 (SF/Bay Area) TechCon SoCal - Jan 17-18  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. In this episode of the Tacos and Tech Podcast, we sit down with Michael Gifford, co-founder and CEO of Splitero, to explore how his innovative company is redefining the way homeowners access and utilize their home equity. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • The Splitero Story: Michael shares how Splitero was born out of the need for a more flexible, homeowner-focused solution for unlocking home equity. • Home Equity Simplified: Learn how Splitero empowers homeowners by providing cash upfront without the need for loans or additional debt. • Challenges and Wins: Michael reflects on the challenges of disrupting a traditional industry and the successes they've seen in helping homeowners achieve their goals. • The Future of Homeownership: We discuss where the real estate industry is heading and how Splitero is positioned to innovate in the equity-sharing space.   About Michael Gifford: Michael is a seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for improving financial wellness for homeowners. His background in real estate and finance provided the perfect foundation for launching Splitero. Under his leadership, Splitero has become a trusted partner for homeowners across the U.S., offering solutions tailored to their unique needs.   Connect with Splitero: • Website: splitero.com • LinkedIn: Splitero on LinkedIn • Twitter: @splitero   Connect with Michael Gifford: • LinkedIn: Michael Gifford   As always, we close out the episode with Michael's picks for his favorite tacos in town—don't miss it!

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News!  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host in this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world including breaking news, IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 11/8 Debriefs: Post-election future Grayson Lafrenz, founder of Power Digital, at SDSU UCSD IGE MedDevice Showcase   News: SD Life Science Office Sitting Vacant  Hydrostasis is alive! Send us your swag! VendiBean The Brant Cooper Leadership Fund application is live - empowering the next generation of startup community builders     Events – for full list – check The Social Coyote Mini Mingle - Nov 14 Don Norman Design Award - Nov 14-15 Discount code: ssd24  Tech The Halls - Dec 6 TechCon SoCal - Jan 17-18  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Don Norman, a pioneering figure in design and user experience, has profoundly influenced how we think about human-centered design. Known widely for his book, The Design of Everyday Things, Norman has helped shift the focus toward intuitive, accessible design that prioritizes user needs. His impact spans industries, and he is celebrated for making design thinking an integral part of product and technology development. As the founder of the Design Lab at UC San Diego, Norman has continued to shape the future of design, inspiring a new generation to build with empathy and inclusivity at the forefront. In 2024, Don Norman's legacy takes a new step with the launch of the Don Norman Design Awards (DNDA), a global initiative celebrating excellence in humanity-centered design. The DNDA emphasizes the importance of designs that make a meaningful impact in real-world communities, with categories recognizing ‘Excellence,' ‘Promising,' and ‘Educational' contributions. By acknowledging projects and individuals who demonstrate innovation in community-focused design, the DNDA aims to promote solutions that drive societal change and enhance quality of life. The awards ceremony and DNDA Summit will take place on November 14-15, 2024 in San Diego, gathering designers, thought leaders, and changemakers to discuss and share ideas on advancing humanity-centered design. The event will feature a formal forum, as well as an “unconference” where participants can engage in workshops led by the community. Through these awards, Don Norman continues to champion the power of thoughtful design, encouraging new voices to push boundaries and impact the world. Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms you enjoy your podcasts for our conversation with Don as he shares his lifetime journey and how he's inspiring and empowering generations to come.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News  I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host of this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years and now he covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   News 10/31 Stocktoberfest, SDSW & health tech event debrief Fundings Wildfire Series B - $16M Serenity EHS - $5.5M Grant funding for Algensis, Cellibre, Onego for bioindustrials Nuclear power making a comeback and General Atomic's fusion tech aims to benefit New CFO at SOCi mPower lands Airbus deal to solar-power satellites Breakthrough Properties   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote SD Founders Hike - Nov 1 EyepopAI & Fresh Brewed Tech Vision Tech Workshop - Nov 5 Tech The Halls - Dec 6 TechCon SoCal - Jan 17-18

Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host of this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years and now he covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 10/17 News LA Tech Week / SD Startup Week Fred's SD Startup Week article Snap office scoop Danish pharma giant buys San Diego company's epilepsy drug for $2.6B Sendlane CEO moving on Fundraises: Splitero raises $300M Firestorm $20m Model Medicines $14m 858 Therapeutics $50m   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Oct 20-22 Stocktoberfest Interview with Howard Lindzon incl discount code Oct 21-25 San Diego Startup Week Oct 21 SD Startup Week Carlsbad Day Coffee Gathering 2-4pm San Diego Startup Week discount code - Use code “cp30” at checkout for a 30% off discount.  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. My co-host of this episode is Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. He wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years and now he covers the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A through his newsletter. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 10/6 News Plug and Play debrief Fred's Q3 report SDSU is building out a battery tech campus in Brawley/ ‘Lithium Valley' Gretal AI and Equip Health make LinkedIn's Top Startups List Defense tech news: Kratos growing Three startups land funding from Defense Industry: Onego, Cellibre, Algenesis Corporation Scripps Oceanography wins $10m grant   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Oct 10 Bits and Bio Biotech Mixer Oct 10  Naturally San Diego Fall Fling Oct 20-22 Stocktoberfest Interview with Howard Lindzon incl discount code Oct 21-25 San Diego Startup Week  

Stocktoberfest Comes Back To Coronado October 20-22, 2024 Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Howard Lindzon, General Partner of Social Leverage and Founder & CEO of Stocktwits, joins us to discuss the upcoming Stocktoberfest October 20-22 in Coronado, CA - a premier gathering of minds in money, investing, and technology. In this episode, Howard shares his journey in investing, entrepreneurship, media, and the many funny lessons he's learned along the way. He also provides a sneak peek into what attendees can expect at this year's Stocktoberfest. Join us in October and use the code “Howard30” for a special discount exclusive to local San Diegans.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   9/23 News Recent events debrief Qualcomm reportedly wants to buy Intel Sports news: Oceanside opens $85M Frontwave Arena San Diego FC name Mikey Varas head coach TL Foundation invests $400K in San Diego startups Singular Genomics Receives Acquisition Proposal  Genentech closes of cancer immunology group, layoffs prompt concern Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Sept 23 - Carlsbad Tech Gathering at Shipcalm Sept 24 - Connect Innovation Day Sept 25-27 - Women's Venture Summit Sept 26 - Top Tech Awards San Diego  Oct 2 - Plug and Play Showcase

In my interview with RapidScale CMO Sean Wisdom, we explored his journey through the tech world, leading to his current role, where he oversees marketing at RapidScale. Sean shared insights into his career path, reflecting on how shifts in technology, customer needs, and his passion for innovation have shaped his approach to marketing cloud solutions. We then discussed the evolving state of the customer in the cloud and AI era, touching on how companies are navigating new challenges and opportunities. We dove into the rapidly changing landscape of AI adoption, exploring its impact on hardware, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Sean highlighted the unique needs of certain industries, from healthcare to finance, as they face distinct challenges in integrating AI while keeping data secure. To wrap up, we talked about his love for Texas tacos, and he shared his two favorite taco spots—new additions to the Tacos and Tech Podcast Database. Thanks to Sean for joining the podcast and sharing his sharp insights on how technology is revolutionizing the way we work, innovate, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   9/15  Candid Therapeutics raised $370M Eli Lilly, HAYA Therapeutics announce $1B partnership Techstars San Diego Powered By San Diego State University Announces 2024 Class San Diego International Airport secures $26.3M grant from FAA TuSimple Leaving Town San Diego State to Join the Pac-12 Conference Sand Cloud Opens retail space in Pacific Beach  Platform Science acquires Trimble Inc. TwitchCon coming back to SD   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote 9/16 EvoNexus Demo Day 2024 Sept 19 - Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks at Seismic Sept 23 - Carlsbad Tech Gathering at Shipcalm Sept 24 - Connect Innovation Day Sept 26 - Top Tech Awards San Diego  Oct 2 - Plug and Play Showcase   

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 9/4 Fundings TeachTo.Me raises $5m Events.com goes public with SPAC Carta data - SD top 5 for Series B funding, top 10 for Series A, not in top 10 in early stage funding, pre-seed and seed SOCi hits $100m ARR Dexcom new product QuidelOrtho gets FDA clearance  New CFO at Viasat   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Sept 6 - SD Founders Hike Sept 10 - SDxAI Startup Showcase Sept 16 - EvoNexus Demo Day 2024 Sept 19 - Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks at Seismic Sept 23 - Carlsbad Tech Gathering at Shipcalm Sept 24 - Connect Innovation Day Sept 26 - Top Tech Awards San Diego  Oct 2 - Plug and Play Showcase   

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 8/26 Fundings PatientPartner Raises $3.5M New Carlsbad Gaming Startup called ModRetro Launches  Inc. 5000 List: Wildfire Systems (top 100), Trovata (554), Shield AI (634), Workiz (825), ZipDev (860), SOCI (1542), GoShare (2506), Cordial (3742) TideRock new investments  KULR gets new battery tech contract with NASA   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote LaunchBio debrief Aug 26 -  Carlsbad Life Science Life in Action Gathering  Sept 6 - SD Founders Hike Sept 12 - Wharton Biotech panel Sept 16 - Evonexus Demo Day Sept 19 - Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks at Seismic Sept 23 - Pitch Deck Workshop for SD Startups  Sept 23 - Carlsbad Tech Gathering at Shipcalm Sept 24 - Connect Innovation Day Sept 26 - Top Tech Awards San Diego  Oct 4 - SD Founders Hike  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 8/14 Avalon BioVentures Startup Acquired for 1.3B Earnings Season Read Out Qualcomm up 20% Resmed up 32% Sempra up 5%   San Diego Angel Conference moving to SDSU TuSimple visit EvoNexus Partners with Healthcare Companies to Accelerate Startups Metropolis IQ launches    Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Carlsbad Life in Action Cleantech debrief NuFund Summer Social debrief CEO Retreat in Valle de Guadalupe by SVB, DLA Piper, and  Aug 21 - North County SD Startup Mixer Aug 22 - EDC Summer BashAug 26 - Carlsbad Life Science Gathering at Thermo Fisher Sept 6 - SD Founders Hike Sept 12 - Wharton Biotech panel Sept 16 - Evonexus Demo Day Sept 19 - Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks at Seismic Sept 23 - Pitch Deck Workshop for SD Startups Sept 23 - Carlsbad Tech Gathering at Shipcalm Sept 24 - Connect Innovation Day Oct 4 - SD Founders Hike Oct 20-22 - Stocktoberfest Oct 21-25 - San Diego Startup Week

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 7/30 Fundings Autobahn Therapeutics - $100M Series C Truvian - $74m Series D+ Alvys - $20m Series A Ciari Guitars - Ciari Guitars Tuning in for Growth Shield AI powering new aircraft  Qualcomm/Snapdragon - Manchester United partnership  American Airlines brings a Carlsbad flight back to Phoenix    Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote North County Mixer - debrief Aug 4 - Brant Cooper Memorial Service Aug 5 - Carlsbad Cleantech Gathering at Aptera Aug 9 - SD Founders Hike Aug 22 - EDC Summer BashAug 26 - Carlsbad Life Science Gathering at Thermo Fisher Sept 12 - Evonexus Demo Day Sept 19 - Dev & Data Night x CTO Talks Sept 23 - Carlsbad Tech Gathering at Shipcalm Sept 24 - Connect Innovation Day Oct 20-22 - Stocktoberfest Oct 21-25 - San Diego Startup Week  

With the passing of Brant Cooper, many of us are finding it helpful to share our stories of how Brant connected, inspired, and continues to push us forward. In this latest recording, Ashok Kamal, Executive Director of NuFund Ventures, and Neal Bloom share how they met, how Brant played a key role in their community development roles, and how they will continue to run with the torch forward. Watch Brant Cooper interview Leo Widrich of Buffer below. See the School of Rap intro song for Founder Fight Club, a Brant Cooper event, below. Join Brant Cooper's Memorial Service by his family on August 4 at 4pm at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. Donations can be made to the Brant Cooper Leadership Fund here by selecting the appropriate drop down box.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community. 7/24 Fundings $1B in VC funding for Q2 Athletic Brewing raises $50 at a $800m valuation Term Labs raises $5.5m Seed Kandji raises another $100M Element Biosciences raises a $277m Series D Kratos new hypersonic vehicle takes flight Fashionphile is launching a Coronado pop-up this summer in Coronado Eli Lily inks a deal with Radionics that could be worth $1B Novartis is shutting down their SD office and cutting 100 jobs An's Gelato is #1 Gelato in the U.S. Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Event debrief - Carlsbad Life In Action Tech Gathering - July 16, next one Sept 23 Cheryl Goodman's new book launch - July 26 Listen in to our interview with Cheryl here   Carlsbad Life in Action Cleantech Gathering - Aug 5 SD EDC Summer Bash - Aug 22 TEDxSanDiegoWomen - Aug 28 Interlock's event calendar - look for what's public and what's private that we're involved in  

  Brand new podcast interview with Cheryl Goodman, CEO of FindGood.Tech and author of How To Win Friends and Influence Robots: An AI Guide for Non-Tech Brilliants Minds.   Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. We are excited to have Cheryl Goodman on the latest episode of the Tacos and Tech podcast. As a long time friend, we reminisce about all the ways we've collaborated in the tech community and Cheryl has been a tech leader going back to the MP3.com days through now as Vice Chair of Startup San Diego and CEO of FindGood.tech, which is an AI-forward, Go-to-Market consulting agency. It's through her thought leadership, including at Interlock Summit, Startup San Diego 1st Mondays, TechCon SoCal, Dev & Data Night, and as a writer for Forbes, that's she's heard the repeated ask for breaking down the AI advances into common terms to bring enterprises up to speed for AI's potential. Listen in to hear more about her book, the upcoming launch party, and her favorite taco spot! Follow Cheryl at her FindGood.Tech website and on LinkedIn. Buy her book directly here. Join the book launch party on July 26 at 3pm. Details here.

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   Little Tech Agenda by Marc Andreesen  7/7 News Eli Lilly, Pfizer, J&J incubating the next big drug in San Diego Liquid Instruments Closes $12 Million Round Huega House Hats nearly doubled its 2023 revenue Aptera monetizes its IP portfolio for $130 Million Sonocharge raises $8.5 Million SD's Artiva plans IPO to fund NK cell therapy's autoimmune trials   Events – For full list – check The Social Coyote Look for upcoming Community CoWorking Days - Aquillius and SDx July 11 Morning with Aquillius SD Founders Hike - July 12 Do you want this weekly? Let Neal know SDx events

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   6/27 News A word about Brant Cooper Industrial & Logistics Tech event debriefs Dexcom layoffs Illumina spins off Grail again Unigrid raises $12m in Series A   Biotech fundings Rapport filed for IPO Iambic Therapeutics Raises $153M Series B Bright Peak Therapeutics Raises $90M Series C   Events - For full list - check The Social Coyote SDx eventsSD Founder Hike - 7/12

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:  Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   6/9 Congrats to Fred on completing his MBA, starting a Masters in Real Estate and writing for the SDBJ again!   TechCon Debrief Rubio's bankruptcy Cue Health Fundings Hauler Hero- $2m Allez Health - formerly Zense - $60M South 8 and Porsche partnership   Events - For full list - check The Social Coyote Connect Summer Social - 6/13 Aquillius Agtech Symposium - 6/19 SD Founder Hike - 7/12

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome everyone to the weekly San Diego Tech News by Neal Bloom and Fred Grier from Fresh Brewed Tech. I'm Neal Bloom from Fresh Brewed Tech, the Tacos and Tech Podcast, and Interlock Capital. I'm Fred Grier, journalist and author of The Business of San Diego substack. I wrote about the tech industry for the San Diego Business Journal for two years. I covered the ins-and-outs of the startup world for much of that time, breaking news on IPOs, fundraising rounds, and M&A. Promote the show:    Before we dive in, we wanted to ask our listeners and SD Tech fans to help us grow the show, leave a review and share with one other person who should be more plugged in with the SD Tech Scene. Thank you for the support and for helping us build the San Diego Startup Community.   5/17 Stories Nearshoring/Friendshoring Debrief North County Event Debrief SD Angel Conference Debrief Iambic Therapeutics raised $29M Biotech office shutdowns/layoffs PacBio/Omniome shutting SD office Takeda to shut down San Diego research center UCSD Talent Foundry   Events - For full list - check The Social Coyote Aquillius: Medical Devices Symposium May 15 Techstars San Diego: Ask Me Anything & Happy Hour May 16 SDx:HackerClub May 16 Carlsbad Biotech Gathering May 20  

Listen & subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms. Welcome to the Tacos and Tech Podcast, where we interview innovative builders and leaders. This week I am excited to interview Ryan Kuder, Managing Director of Techstars San Diego Powered by San Diego State University. Ryan is a serial startup operator, ecosystem builder, and Techstars Accelerator leader. He was previously on the podcast and you can listen in to hear more about his background here. In this latest conversation, he shares the benefits of an accelerator and what kind of company is right for Techstars. Applications are due by May 22, 2024 for the Techstars San Diego Fall 2024 Accelerator. Apply here. Ryan is consistent in his taco choice, which is the acclaimed meats and ingredients from El Nopalito in Encinitas and making the tacos at home. Subscribe and share this podcast to enable us to tell great stories about great people.